Let Them (Him) Talk

         Hugh Laurie. Many things come to mind when you think of this gray laden British man. Actor. Philanthropist. Author. Bluesman? Might sound bizarre, but it’s true. Apparently getting paid ridiculous sums of money to be one of the top rated doctors on television is just a hobby to Laurie. His real passion is music. I guess it only makes sense then that he decided to use his own money and put out a CD. It isn’t going to go multiplatinum. It isn’t going to win ten Grammys. But it just might come as a surprise to the listener when they hear his soulfully deep baritone.
         Hugh Laurie started taking music lesson at the age of six and now boosts an impressive ability to play the piano, guitar, drums, harmonica and saxophone. On occasion, the actor has been shown singing and performing on his hit show, House. He has played guest spots on a Meatloaf album and performs in the charity act, Band From TV. Laurie has a soft spot in his heart for New Orleans jazz music and it’s clear to hear on his debut album, Let Them Talk.
         Let Them Talk is going to be a culture shock for Hugh Laurie fans. It’s not at all what you’d expect. Featuring an impressive ensemble of collaborative artists –such as Tom Jones, Irma Thomas, Dr. John, and Kevin Breit– Let Them Talk is a step back in time. It’s reminiscent of the days when men wore suits and opened the door for women. What’s most notably about this album is the voice of Laurie. It’s Americanized and soulful. If you didn’t know who was singing, you’d never be able to guess it was the award winning actor. He steps outside himself and delivers a pretty solid production.
         The album starts off with the meaningful St. James Infirmary and then punches right through to my personal favorite track You Don’t Know My Mind. It’s a real pleasure to hear a born and bred Brit tackling the blues. The fifteen enriched tracks on this album are something wonderful to behold. But buyer be warned: it is not for everyone. If you don’t like blues music, the real authentic kind, then you might not dig this album. It’s layered and decisively so. It takes a few plays to catch all the subtle nuances and multidimensional sounds. Hugh Laurie shows up with his heart exposed and showcases yet another talent of his diverse resume.